System of electric-circuit control



J. B. HEARD. SYSTEM OF ELECTRIC CIRCUIT-CONTROL.

mwucmon man Alli-3.16. 191a. Patented Feb. 14, 1922 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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1.B.HEARD. SYSTEM 0F- ELECTRIQ CIRCUIT CONTROL.

. APPLICATIQN FlL ED AU-IG. 1918. Patented 14,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Snow V60 UNITED srarss PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES B. HEARD, OF ANTONIO, TEXAS.

SYSTEMOF ELECTRIC-CIRCUIT CONTROL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 14, 1922.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

"Be it known that I, James B. HEARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Antonio, in the county of Bexar and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Systems of Electric-Circuit Control, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to systems of electrlcal circuit control, designed primarily for small power plants, and has for its primary object to provide, in a system of this class, a control switch for starting the current generating mechanism whenever a switch on the main line leading from the generator is closed, and for stopping said mechanism when the line is open or broken, the whole operation being performed automatically by making-and breaking the circuit in the main line.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electrical power plant system with a controller switch and electrical operating means therefor actuated by abattery, which switch, when the main line'circuit from the generator is open, automatically connects said battery to the main line and holds the same thus connected until the circuit in the line is closed, whereupon a shunt circuit from the batteryis sent through the control motor which being moved, will make and break certain contacts, with the result that the battery is cut out of the main line cir cuit, the motor for driving the generator started, the generator connected with the main line,'and finally the battery circuit through the control motor brolren to stop the movement of the switch in such position that the generator will bercoupled to the main line. In this position the controller switch will remain as long as the current is being used in the line, but upon opening the line circuit'by cutting out the current absorbing device connected therewith, the controller motor circuit is automatically closed and the switch moves into its firstrposition, ready for operation when the main line circuit is closed.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a system of electrical circuit control, an intermittently operated rotary controllerswitch that is self operated under all conditions and is of particular advantage in small power plants where it is ditlicult or inexpedient to have an attendant to start and stop the current generating mechanism. The controller switch, its operating device and connections, comprises few parts and are of simple construction and when once regulated, will require practically no attention other than the recharging of the battery. Furthermore, the connections to the controller switch are such that if the circuit in the main line from the generator be open, closing said circuit by cutting in a single electric light, a motor, or other current absorbing device will start the switch to rotating and by its rotation, operate the starter of an internal combustion engine to drive the generator, connect the main line to said generator, the battery to the switch motor and finally cutting out the mechanism operating the switch and causing said switch to remain in fixed position until the main line is again opened, whereupon the switch is automatically started and completes its cycle, returning to its first position where it will be ready to once more perform its functionwhen the circuit through the main line is again closed.

With these objects in view, together with others which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel formation, combination and arrangement of parts, all as will be described more fully hereinafter, particularly pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a diagrammatic View of the en tire system including the controller switch and its operating motor.

Figure 2 is an elevation of the controller switch motor and the operating connections therebetween and the controller switch.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the controller switch, and V Figure 4 is a sectional view of a secondary switch for maintaining a battery circuit in the switch motor during intermittent operations of the switch.

in the drawings, 10 indicates the rotary controller switch comprising in the present instance a drum ll of cylindrical form fixed to a rotatable shaft 12 supported in bearings, not shown, said, shaft also carrying near one end beyond the drum 11 a ratchet wheel 13. The ratchet wheel 13 is provided with three teeth 14: projecting from its peripheral surface and with three depressions 15 in the exterior side of the same, the teeth l4 bein'g equally spaced around the periphery of the wheel and the'dcpressions also 7 -equallyspaced }Mounted to roclrfreely on the shaft l2 is a radius arm '16, on the outer end of which is pivoted a pawl 17 adapted to engage with i the teethl4when the tun c is vibrated. A

spring 18 iscarried abouttheshaft112, one

end being fixed to saidshaft-,thejopposite endcof the spring bearing uponthe arm 16' and tendingto move the arm in one direction Movement in the other direction isaccomplished by anelectrical motor 19 here 'shown'as a solenoid20 having a longitudi nally mova'ble core 21 of magnetic material pivotally connected at one end by .a link 22 with the outer end of the arm 16.' UP

vpassing an electrical currentthroughthe solenoid 20,the core 21 is drawn into-the solenoid, vibrating the lever 16 and causing apartial'rotation ofthe ratchet wheel 13 and drum 11' through" the engagement of the V pawl 17 with one ofthe'teeth 14. Upon breaking the current through the solenoid the spring 18 reacts and returns the arm to the position shown in Figure 2 ready for another intermittent movement of the ratchet wheel. For holding the ratchet wheel '13 against accidental movement when the arm 16 is returned or when the parts are at rest, a pin 23 is mounted'at the side ofthe ratchet wheel in such position that one end will engage a notch 15 in the side of said wheel, this pin beingforced against the Wheel by means 'ofja spring 24.. The edgesof the notches 15 r are sufiiciently rounded or inclined to permit the pinto be pushed out of engagement with the notch and moved endwise upon the exertion of the slight power required to rotate the ratchet wheel. Another function of the pin 23 is to close an electrical circuit through a switch 25, the swltch comprising a spring'arm placed with its free end in po- 1 V sltio'n to be engaged by the pin 23 striking 1t when forced outwardly from the notch 15.

.Wires 26 and 27 connect said )in and s rin b respectively to a battery circuit leading through the solenoid 20, as hereinafter described. to

Projecting radially fromrthe drum 11 of the controller switch 10 are threeseries of contact fingers indicated respectively at A, B and C. .The fingers of each series are arrangedin groups in a straight longitudinal line on the (111111111, the fingers of each group being spaced equal distancesv apart. The drum 11 may bemade of non-conducting material if desired, or of metal in which latter case the fingers will be-insulated from the drum by connecting to the drum a'section of non-conducting material as shown At one side of the drum are mounted upon a fixed insulated support, a seriesof electrical contacts indicated'by the numerals 1, 2,

3,4, 5, 6, 9, 31, 32 and 33. These fingers" which are shown as forked are equally spaced from oneanother, the distancetherebetween beingthe same as that between the fingers .ofeach group on the drum 11. As the drum;

rotates in'the direction of the arrow, the

said fingers, closing certainelectrical cirfingersof the series A, B andC successively engage suchfixed contacts of theseries from 1 to 9 and from 31 to 33 as are 1n llne with V cuits which will be more ffully set, forth hereinafter. l. 7 1

Forming'a part of thepresent system is a battery 28 from which awire29 eXtends't-o a point near the fixedcontacts,1where'it divides, one branch 29 being connected to 'the fixed contact 2 while the other branch 29 is connected to the fixed contact 8. From the branch 29 'a wire 30 extends and is'con- I i nected toa contact 34 ofarelayi35. The armature lever 36, held awayfrom the con tact 34 when no current is passingthrou'gh the relay, is connected'by a wire 37 toene,

ing connected by 'a wire 38Vto the battery end of the solenoid 20, the opposite end be- 28. Thecircuit thus traced willfwhen the i relay 35 is energized, be completed by saidrelayand energizing the solenoid 20, the lat; ter will operate to turn the ratchet Wheel 13 and the drum 11' athird of a revolutiton.

The motor or generator of the system is indicated at 39,fleads40 and41 from i the generator pass respectively-to ithe'fi x ed contacts 5 and 6, while from the fixed con tacts 3and 4, the line wires 42 and .43 respectively "extend. The relay 35' is connected on one side by Wire 44 to fixed contact 1i and on its opposite side wire 45 to the battery 28 through its connection to wire 38 from the'solenoid. Lead wire 41. from the generator 39 contains a relay 46,

the armature lever of which is connected by a wire 47 t wire 37 leading from relay35 to the solenoid 20. The relay 46 a has a front contact stop 48 and a back con t act stop 49.; the former being connected by a wire 50 to fixed contact 7, theback I stop contact 49 in turn being connected by 'wire 51 with, the fixed contact 9 Of the remainingfixed contacts, the one "numbered 31 is connected by wire 52 with the ignition system of the internal combustion engine 75 by which the generator 39 is driven,

The contact 32 is connected by'awire 53 a a a and a are in electrical contact f respectively with the fixed contacts 1 2, 3, V

and 4. These fingers which comprise all that are intheA group of fingers are connectedin pairs the fingers a and a being joined by a conductor 56 and a and a by a conductor 57 The series of fingers represented by Bare indicated individually at Z2 b b b 6 7J8, b, 6 and I). These fingers are arranged in two groups, one group includes fingers b 6 If, 5 b 6 which will, when the drum 10 is given one third of a revolution'in the direction indicated by the arrow, be brought into electrical engagement with the fixed contacts 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8. The other group including fingers 6 Z), and 6- will at the same time connect with fixed contacts 31, 32, and 33. Further movement of the drum in the direction indicated will bring series of fingers G into contact with the'fixed fingers. One group of the fingers ofseries b indicated by 0 0 c and 0 will close the circuit with fixed contacts 3, 4, 5, and 6, while theother group c 0, and 0 engage contact fingers 8, 9 and Of the E series, fingers Z2 and b are joined by a connector 58, while 6 and r If are joined by a connector 59. Of the remaining'fingers of this series, 7), 6 Zr, 7), and I) are all electrically connected as by a wire 60. 1

In the C group of fingers, c and c are electrically connectedvas at 61 and 0* and joined by a wire 62. Fingers c 0 and 0 are connected together, a conductor 63 oining these fingers. j

A system such as described coupled to a dynamo driven by an internal combustion engine equipped with an electric sharter constitutes a complete plant for intermittent service such as farm lighting and other uses about the farm and is also suitable for small factories and may be mounted upon automobiles, the main line wires being connected to the driving electric motor or motors. The operation of the system being wholly automatic, the necessity of employing a person to start and stop the plant each time it is to be used or discontinned is thus avoided.

The operationof the system is as follows. lVith the parts in the position shown in Figure 1, which may be called the normal or inactive position, the fingers a a a and a which constitute the A series of fingers on the drum 11, are in electrical engagement with the fixed contacts 1, 2, 3 and 4. The dynamo and its engine will not be running and the leads 40 and 41 from the dynamo are disconnected from the main line wires 42 and 43 at the fixed contacts 5 and 6. Under such conditions the battery circuit which extends from battery 28 by wires 29, branch wire 29, contact 2,.fin er a connector 57, finger a contact 3, an main line wire 42, is open because none of the .29, pin 23, switch 25 and wire 37.

current consumingdevices m such as lamps,

cuit proceedsthence by finger a, connector 56, finger a contact 1, wire 44, magnet of relay 35, wire 45, and wire 38 to the battery. The circuit therefore is open only at m. It now the switch of any of the devices min the main line be closed, the circuit of battery 28 will be completed and the magnet of relay 35 energized, attracting its armature. The armature lever 36 coming in contact with the stop 34, closes a shunt circuit, from the battery branch wire 29, wire 30, stop 34, armature lever 36, wire 37, solenoid 20 of the switch motor 19 and thence by wire 38 to battery. This shunt circuit energizes the solenoid 20 and causes it to draw its armature 21 inwardly and rock the lever 16 connected thereto. The pawl 17 carried. by said lever engages one of the teeth 14 of the ratchet wheel 13 and turns said wheel and the drum 11 one third of acomplete revolution in the direction indicated by the arrow, a movement that causes the A series of fingers on the drum to become disengaged from the fixed contacts and the B series of fingers to connect therewith. The moment fingers a and a separate from contacts 1 and 4, the battery circuit through the magnet of relay 35 is broken and the magnet de-energized, its armature lever being drawn out of contact with stop 34 by a spring-in the usual manner. This opens the battery circuit through the solenoid before the complete movement oi the drum has taken place, but to compensate for this, one end of the pin 23, which is always in a notch 15 in the ratchet wheel 13 when the drum is stationary, is forced out of said notch by the turning of the ratchet wheel and the pin caused to move in an endwise direction, its opposite end coming into contact with the switch 25 and so closing the battery circuit through solenoid 20 by wire 26connected to battery wire This circuit remains unbroken until the c0mpletion of the intermittent movement of the drum because the pin 23 riding against the edge of the ratchet wheel, is held by said edge in contact with switch 25 until the next succeeding notch 15 is brought into line with the pin which enters the notch and so opens the circuit through the solenoid at switch 25 at the end of the intermittent movement.

In the second position of the drum 11, the circuit through the solenoid 20 being broken atswitch 25, as stated, the spring 18 reacts on the lever 16 to return the latter and the armature 21 to their original positions and the pawl 17 into engagement with another of the teeth 14. lVith the drum in its new position, thefingers 72 b, 6 Z), b b, I2

6 of the series B make electrical connection withtthe fixed contacts 3,4,5, 6

.7. 8, 31, 3Q. 33;;- The leads .4lfand 4L0, connectedI-tothe fixed contacts 6 and 5,. are coupled to the main line wires 42' and 43 through the fingers 'b and b connectors- 58, and 59,- fingers b and b and fixed con tacts 3 and are which the line wires 42 and 4eare connected so that when currentis generated by the rotation of the dynamo,

1 battery circuitpasses by way of branch wire V to pass from the connector;6O through fin l ger bhfixed contact 7, wire 50, contact 48,

29%"fi xed contact :8, and finger b tocon: nector which joinsthe fingers 6 Z), 6 and 6 No. current can pass by way of finger b and theqfixed contact 7 because the latter is'connected to the open stoptS of relay 46, but current may pass through fingers Z1 and. 6 to contacts 31 and 32 and byavires'52 and 53 from said contacts to the ignition system of the engine and toan electrical starter,-inclicated by 75. by means of which the internal combustion engine driving the dynamo is set in motion. 7 A

ground return frornthe g'nition system and starter 1s 7 effected by i grounding the engine.

and battery as shown in the drawings Immediately the battery. circuit through the finger I) and lcontact 32 is completed, the electrical starterstarts the engine and the dynamo, driven thereby, generates a cur rent which passesto theline wire, through Upon starting the dynamo 39 rotating, the" current 'there- I from passes through the magnet of relay 46,

the connections described.

attracting the; armature thereof and drawing the lever of the armature into contact withthe front stop 48 of the relay. .This will: cause a portion of the battery current armaturelever of relay and wire 47 to wire 37 which leads to the solenoid 20. This will cause the solenoid to turn'thedrum as beforethrough one third of a revolution-which will bring the. fingers of the 'C series into 7 through its momentum after each operation" electrical engagement. with the corresponding' fixed contacts. Shorild, however, the

engine failftostart and the dynamo con ll-111116 at rest, no current of course Wlll be generatedlf The relayedwill remain inactive and the battery circuit through stop 48and'armaturelever continue. broken, the

solenoid will not operate. To provide for this, contingency, the-finger 6 will engage the fixed contact 33 and, by way of the wire In the new position 'of the drum 1 1, the

fingers 0,03, s and 0 10f theC series are in electrical connection with the fixed con tacts,3, 4 5,and 6 thuscontinuing the linev wires 42 and 43in connection with the leads &0 and-41 otthe dynamo; Theother fingerscf, 09, and 0 of the Ci'serles' engage the.

fixed contacts 8 19 and 31 thereby shifting. a V

the battery circuit entering through branch 7 29 contact .8 andfin'g'er c to fingers c and e which' are"joined bya-connector 68. As in the second position of the drumy'battery circuitpassed to the ignition system of the engine through finger b fixed contact 31 and wire 52, soin the present position of the drum the same battery circuit passes through finger .0 contact '31 and wire 52 f to the ignition systenn Fing'erc engaging the fixed contact 9 is in an open circuit be cause the wire 5l leading from the fixed contact S-passes to theback stop 49 of relay e6 which stop is open so longas the dynamo is runningand a current passes" through the magnet'ot the relay. The drum inits present situation connects :the dynamo to the line wires and the battery to the ignition 7 system, there'beingfno other. connections with the fixed contact other than the finger 0 which asstated is in an'open' circuit. Theswitch will remain inthis posltlonas long as the circuit in the main line is closed 7 and, 'even a single lightwill be suificient to; maintain its position. Whem however,' the last light is put out, or the last motorstops or inany other manner the circuit between I main line wires 42 and 48' is br'oken,:the'

magnet of relay46 is de energi'zed and the armature lever of said relay drawn away from the magnet'by a spring until it contacts; w1th the back stop 49. The battery circuit will once more be closed through the solenoid 20 by wire 29, branch 29*, contact S, finger c connector 63, finger 0 ,1001]- .tact 9 wire 51, back stop 49, armature lever of relay4c6, Wire 47, andwires 37 to solenoid."

The solenoid thus energized turns the drum once morefor a thllfljOf a revolution which will bring theffingers ofthe A. series into the position. shown in Figure '1' or nor mal positlon ready for anotherfcycle when-' ever the circuit n the m&1Il"l1l18 lS closed.

.To prevent the drum from moving too far by the motor 19,'a dash pot 64 isconnected to the; rear end of the armature 21, this dash pot serving to retard the motion of the armature just before it reaches the *endof its movement.- By thisjmeans the drum will V .120. V proper engagement with the Y dynamo, anjauxiliary generator and a motor driven by the auxiliary generatorfor oper- I the switch motor,'cut out the auxiliary generator from the line and then connect the line and dynamo circuits and start the dynamo.

2. In a system of electric circuit control including a dynamo and a line circuit, a controller switch between said line and dynamo, an engine for driving said dynamo, an electric starter for said engine, an auxiliary generator and a motor driven by the auxiliary generator for operating said switch to disconnect the line from the generator when the line circuit is open, to stop the dynamo, and to cut the auxiliary generator into the line circuit, and when said line circuit is closed to automatically start the switch motor and operate the switch to cut out the auxiliary generator from the line, connect the line and dynamo circuits, and start the dynamo by temporarily closing the circuit of the auxiliary generator through the electric starter.

3. In a systemrof electric circuit control including a dynamo and a line circuit, a controller switch between said line and dynamo, means for intermittently, rotating said switch, an auxiliary generator for operating said means and turning the switch to disconnect the line circuit from the dynamo and stop the dynamo when the line circuit is open, and shunt circuits from said auxiliary generator controlled by said switch to out said generator into the line circuit when said clrcuit is open, and when the line circuit is closed to automatically operate the switch driving means, cut out the auxiliary generator from the line, connect the line and dynamo circuits, and start the dynamo.

4. In a system of electric circuit control, a controller switch, means mounted thereon tor intermittently rotating the same, an electric motor for operating said means, a line circuit, a dynamo adapted to be connected to and disconnected from the line circuit by the rotation of said switch, an auxiliary generator, circuits from said auxiliary generator to the switch operating motor controlled by the movement of the switch, and shunt circuits from said auxiliary generator also controlled by the switch and means operable by the control switch for breaking the main line circuit and stopping the dynamo and causing the auxiliary generator to be cut into the main line, and means for moving the switch to cut the dynamo into and the generator out of the main line, when the line circuit is again closed.

5. In a system of electric circuit control, a controller switch, means for intermittently rotating said switch, an electric motor for operating said means, a main line circuit, a dynamo adapted to be connected to and disconnected from the main line by the rotation of the switch, an auxiliary generator, a circuit from said generator to the switch motor controlled by the rotation of the switch, a relay in said latter circuit, shunt circuits from said auxiliary generator circuit controlled by said switch, one of said shunt circuits being opened andv closed by said relay, a second relay in the dynamo circuit controlling other of the shunt circuits, said shunt circuits serving to close or maintain the auxiliary generator circuit to the switch operating motor.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES B. HEARD. Witnesses:

STACEY W. WILLEY, WILLIAM F. LOWNDES. 

